Calf weaner



jan, 13, 1,925..

.A. J. WELSH CALF WEANER Filed July '7, 1925 I I0! I 6; I v 35 M 61mm,

Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALPHA J. WELSH, OF ELKHART, KANSAS.

CALF WEANER.

Application filed J 1113 7,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that ALPHA J. l/VELSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in thecounty of Morton and State of Kansas, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calf Weaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in calf weaners, and has particular reference to that type of calf weaner which embodies a guard member or plate having means for suspending the same from the cartilage of the calfs nostril.

The primary object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve devices of the above kind.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means on the guard plate for suspending the latter from the calfs nostril, which means is characterized by simplicity, durability and efficient operation.

With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent when the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts here inafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a calf weaner constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof partly broken away, and

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view of the same.

Figure 4; is a detail view.

Referring more in detail to the several views, the present invention embodies a guard plate 5 of substantially trapezoidal form in elevation, as shown, and preferably constructed of a light rigid metal, such as galvanized iron. The lower corners of the guard 5 are provided with vertical and horizontal slits 6 and 7 respectively, which leave substantially arrowhead-shaped corner portions 8, and these corner portions are directed forwardly so as to present a plurality of pointed portions adapted to prod the mother, as is well known in the art. The remaining portion of the vertical and lower horizontal edges of the guard plate are formed with spurs 9, preferably formed by providing a series of V-shaped notches in 1923. Serial No. 650,081.

these edges. As will be seen from the several views, the side marginal portions 10 of the guard plate are directed roarwardly at an angle, and the spurs 9 on the edges thereof are directed in a plane parallel with the body portion of the guard plate.

The upper end portion of the guard plate 5 is provided with a return-bent marginal portion 11 which has an opening therethrough adjacent one end, as at 12, through which projects the vertical shank 13 of a nostril-engaging member 14, the lower end of this member 14 being suitably fixed to the body of the guard plate as at 15. The nostril-engaging member 14; is thus rigidly fixed to the guard plate at one side of the vertical center thereof. Another nostrilengaging member 16 is pivoted at its lower end as at 17 to the guard plate, and its shank 13 extends upwardly through an elongated slot 18 provided in the top of the return-bent portion 11 at the other side of the vertical center of the guard plate. The nostril-engaging members terminate in inturned end portions 18 which extend to ward each other and are provided with rounded heads 19 adapted to engage opposite sides of the cartilage of the calfs nostril in a well known manner for pivotally attaching the weaner to the calf. The nostril-engaging member 16 is limited in movement towards the member 14: by engagement with the inner end of the slot 18, so as to have its head portion 19 normally lie in spaced relation to the head of the member 14 and at such distance from the latter that the space therebetween will be slightly less than the thickness of the cartilage of the animals nostril. In order to yieldingly swing the member 16 towards the member 14, a helical tension spring 20 is provided in the return-bent marginal portion 11 with its ends connected to the vertical portions of the members ll and 16 as shown in Figure 2.

In use, the retaining member 16 is swung outwardly opposite the tongue 21 and the heads 19 are then disposed at opposite sides of the cartilage of the animals nostril. The member 16 is then released and the spring 20 causes the same to swing towards the mem ber 14 to yieldingly hold the member 16 and member 14: with their heads in clamping engagement with the animals nose. hen the heads of the said members are in position against the opposite sides of the Cit ca rtilage of the nostril of the animal, the

plate is thus suspended, it Will swing When the animal lowers his head for grazing or the like, but Will effectively prevent its access to the mother for food.

Minor changes may be made Without departing rom the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

' What I claim as new is A Weaner comprising a plate having at its edge a fold portion and provided along the line of "the fol d with a slot, the fold portion having a tonguewhich is bendable transversely across the slot, a shank member fixed to the plate and passing through the same at the fold thereof, a shank member pivotally mounted upon the plate and of the slot, and the tongueis' foldedlacross the slot, the free end o-fthe tongue. is disposed at theouter surface of the plate? In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

; A; J; E sH. 

